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All the Queens’ Curses
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26It’s time for Kit’s dear stepsister, Princess Catharine, to meet her intended, Prince Idris, at a ball. Chronically ill Kit doesn’t expect to connect with Idris there, but he quickly sees through Kit’s defenses and into her terrible The king, her stepfather, has been abusing her.
The night of the ball is also Idris’s birthday, and at midnight a fae messenger reveals to Idris the crime his ancestor committed against the fae queen, and the curse she gave his family. Idris accepts her trial to end the curse, though it will kill him.
Meanwhile, the queen seeks out the fae to swap Kit and Catharine’s bodies to save Kit from the king. Changed and horrified, the girls flee to the prince’s lands. With Idris’s help they must all try to undo their curses and see justice done for their families’ wrongs.
The night of the ball is also Idris’s birthday, and at midnight a fae messenger reveals to Idris the crime his ancestor committed against the fae queen, and the curse she gave his family. Idris accepts her trial to end the curse, though it will kill him.
Meanwhile, the queen seeks out the fae to swap Kit and Catharine’s bodies to save Kit from the king. Changed and horrified, the girls flee to the prince’s lands. With Idris’s help they must all try to undo their curses and see justice done for their families’ wrongs.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
Alyssa Hollingsworth
10 books130 followersAlyssa was born in small-town Milton, Florida, but life as a roving military kid soon mellowed her (unintelligibly strong) Southern accent. Wanderlust is in her blood, and she’s always waiting for the wind to change. Stories remain her constant.
Alyssa received her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Berry College. From Bath Spa University, she received her MA with honors in Writing for Young People and her Ph.D in Creative Writing with her thesis Breaking the Curse: Retelling a Folk Fairy Tale to Explore Trauma and Healing in Novels for Young People.
She is represented by Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary. Her award-winning debut The Eleventh Trade and her second book The Invisible Boy were published by Roaring Brook/Macmillan (U.S.) and Piccadilly Press (U.K.).
Alyssa loves crafting, cozy video games, and going on adventures with her nerdy husband and mischievous dog.
Alyssa received her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Berry College. From Bath Spa University, she received her MA with honors in Writing for Young People and her Ph.D in Creative Writing with her thesis Breaking the Curse: Retelling a Folk Fairy Tale to Explore Trauma and Healing in Novels for Young People.
She is represented by Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary. Her award-winning debut The Eleventh Trade and her second book The Invisible Boy were published by Roaring Brook/Macmillan (U.S.) and Piccadilly Press (U.K.).
Alyssa loves crafting, cozy video games, and going on adventures with her nerdy husband and mischievous dog.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for access to an e-ARC for review purposes.
Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. I really hate that I wasn’t able to finish, but the story did not grip me in any way. I just wasn’t interested in continuing and I’m not happy about it. I’ve tried to reflect on why I would want to DNF this after getting halfway through and I think I found some legitimate reasons.
First – The plot:
The plot sounded interesting from the blurb, but I think the delivery just didn’t match what I expected. I expected this to be fast moving and high stakes. I expected the body switch to cause some complications and drama. I was disappointed when Idris found out Kit was in her sister’s body right away. I was hoping the drama surrounding that would be a main theme in this book, but it was resolved so quickly and felt anticlimactic. I feel like this book would get there eventually, but unfortunately after giving it a go to halfway through, I wasn’t hooked enough to continue.
Second – The characters:
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. Yes, I felt bad for them and their circumstances, of course, but I didn’t feel any connection to them. While reading I didn’t feel any concern that they wouldn’t get their happy endings and that just kind of ruined any drama for me. I usually don’t have an issue with a book with lower stakes – but I feel like I went into this book expecting high stakes and drama and got more of a cozy fantasy feel.
I really wish I could have loved this as much as I thought I would and therefore finish it, but I just lost all my interest by halfway in. I really need books to grip me before then or I’m libel to discontinue reading.
With that being said, I’m giving this 3 stars because I don’t think what I read was bad by any means, just not interesting enough for me to continue reading. I do not wish to discourage others who want to give this a go, just know that this leans more into the cozy fantasy vibe (to me) than a high stakes romantasy.
Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. I really hate that I wasn’t able to finish, but the story did not grip me in any way. I just wasn’t interested in continuing and I’m not happy about it. I’ve tried to reflect on why I would want to DNF this after getting halfway through and I think I found some legitimate reasons.
First – The plot:
The plot sounded interesting from the blurb, but I think the delivery just didn’t match what I expected. I expected this to be fast moving and high stakes. I expected the body switch to cause some complications and drama. I was disappointed when Idris found out Kit was in her sister’s body right away. I was hoping the drama surrounding that would be a main theme in this book, but it was resolved so quickly and felt anticlimactic. I feel like this book would get there eventually, but unfortunately after giving it a go to halfway through, I wasn’t hooked enough to continue.
Second – The characters:
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. Yes, I felt bad for them and their circumstances, of course, but I didn’t feel any connection to them. While reading I didn’t feel any concern that they wouldn’t get their happy endings and that just kind of ruined any drama for me. I usually don’t have an issue with a book with lower stakes – but I feel like I went into this book expecting high stakes and drama and got more of a cozy fantasy feel.
I really wish I could have loved this as much as I thought I would and therefore finish it, but I just lost all my interest by halfway in. I really need books to grip me before then or I’m libel to discontinue reading.
With that being said, I’m giving this 3 stars because I don’t think what I read was bad by any means, just not interesting enough for me to continue reading. I do not wish to discourage others who want to give this a go, just know that this leans more into the cozy fantasy vibe (to me) than a high stakes romantasy.
Review of advance copy
I received an ARC of All the Queens' Curses and stayed up way too late finishing it. Alyssa Hollingsworth has written something rare: a fantasy that never forgets the body. Kit lives with chronic illness a "wasting sickness" that her mother says is a curse passed down through women in their family. When an enchantment swaps her body with her stepsister Catharine's, she has to decide: go back to the body that hurts, or stay in one that works? Meanwhile, Prince Idris has his own curse danced to death unless he can atone for his ancestor's crime against the Hidden Folk. The two stories weave together with such care. What moved me most was how Hollingsworth handles disability: not as something to be cured, but as something to live with, to navigate, to choose. The body swap isn't a magic fix. It's a question. Can Kit bear to go back? The answer surprised me. For readers 12 and up who want fantasy with real weight.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Maybe I’m too sensitive, but I don’t enjoy YA books—especially YA fantasy—that gloss over or lightly handle sexual assault. I didn’t see a trigger warning, and I think one is definitely needed, particularly for a book aimed at a younger audience.
The story itself was fine. I appreciated the touches of Scottish folklore, but I felt it needed more backstory and stronger world-building. I also didn’t fully understand elements like the work, the kings, the land, or even the hotel—those details felt underdeveloped and left me a bit confused.
The cover is beautiful, but it doesn’t really match the story. Overall, the book felt like it was missing some key details that could have made it more cohesive and enjoyable.
The story itself was fine. I appreciated the touches of Scottish folklore, but I felt it needed more backstory and stronger world-building. I also didn’t fully understand elements like the work, the kings, the land, or even the hotel—those details felt underdeveloped and left me a bit confused.
The cover is beautiful, but it doesn’t really match the story. Overall, the book felt like it was missing some key details that could have made it more cohesive and enjoyable.
Review of advance copy
Chronically ill Princess Kit, who is being abused by her stepfather, the King, swaps bodies with her able-bodied stepsister Catharine, engaged to a prince that Kit secretly covets. The two sisters flee home to find a remedy, and Kit soon discovers that the prince is also contending with a curse of his own. She learns how to break the curse--but the curse-breaking magic will only work once.
Based on a fairy tale, this is an engrossing story about intergenerational trauma and healing.
Based on a fairy tale, this is an engrossing story about intergenerational trauma and healing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
All the Queen’s Curses completely pulled me in from the first few chapters. The atmosphere was magical, emotional, and slightly haunting in the best way possible. I loved how the story balanced fantasy, mystery, and emotion without ever feeling overwhelming. I think chemistry should be build and put more between the fmc and mmc.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I love reading fantasy so much. Absolutely a 5⭐ read for me.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I love reading fantasy so much. Absolutely a 5⭐ read for me.
May 18, 2026
Uncompromising, sincere, and kind without losing its teeth - not a combination that comes around easily or often.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews